Best Bars for Pregame Cocktails Old Town
The Best Place for a Cocktail Before Lollapalooza in Old Town
There’s a particular kind of Chicago afternoon that belongs to summer — the light going long and gold over Wells Street, the whole city leaning toward the lake and the music. Before the festival swallows the day, it’s worth pausing. A good cocktail. An unhurried hour. At The VIG in Old Town, that pause is the point.
Things to Do in Old Town This Summer: Local Festival Favorites
Why the Night Should Start Here
Old Town has always kept its own time, and so does our patio — a quiet stretch of shade and conversation before the crowds find you. The cocktail list is built the same way: a few honest classics, a few quiet surprises, each made with care rather than speed. You’ll find us at 1527 N. Wells St., Chicago, IL 60610, a block off the Sedgwick stop on the Brown and Purple Lines and an easy reach from the lakefront, Grant Park, and the rest of the summer’s gravity. The neighborhood carries you the rest of the way — brick and history, sidewalks that remember every August before this one. And when the table is full of friends, our large-format cocktails ask to be shared, poured slow while the day stretches out ahead.
Where to Begin Before the City’s Great Summer Gatherings
Wherever the weekend leads, let it begin slowly, here:
Lollapalooza (July 30–Aug 2): Settle in here first, then drift south to Grant Park as the bass rolls off the lake.
Taste of Chicago (July 8–12): A drink in Old Town, then downtown for the food that defines the city’s summer.
Windy City Smokeout (July 8–12): Before the smoke and steel guitars at the United Center, give the evening a slower, finer start.
Air & Water Show (Aug 15–16): The jets thunder over North Avenue Beach just east of us — toast before you wander down to watch the sky.
Hold a table for your group, claim the patio while the light is good, and let the day begin the way the best ones do.Hours of Operation
The VIG Old Town
1527 N Wells St, Chicago, IL 60610
(312) 982-2186
Hours:
Monday-Wednesday: 5pm-12am
Thursday: 5pm-2am
Friday: 11:30am-2am
Saturday: 10am-3am
Sunday: 10am-12am
Happy Hour: Monday-Thursday 5pm-7pm, Friday 3pm-7pm
Weekend Brunch: Saturday-Sunday 10am-3pm